Kosher cheese recalled

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I received a recorded phone call from my local supermarket on Saturday telling me that a shredded package of kosher mozzarella cheese I’d recently purchased had been recalled due to possible contamination with listeria. The offender in my refrigerator was packaged by Miller’s; Haolam also announced a voluntary recall of its kosher shredded cheese products.

Both cheese companies sell their products in Boston and other cities in chain supermarkets as well as kosher grocery stores.

The products were shredded in a Wisconsin plant on the same machine as a third cheese brand sold only in Wisconsin that has been found to be contaminated with listeria, the companies said in separate statements. None of the kosher cheeses tested positive for the bacteria, but the state of Wisconsin asked the companies to pull shredded mozzarella cheese, cheddar cheese, and pizza cheese packages from their shelves as a precaution.

Listeria can cause fever, muscle aches, diarrhea and other gastrointestinal symptoms. In pregnant women, it can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, and premature delivery.

According to World Cheese, manufacturer of Haolam, customers should return the following products to stores for a refund:

-- All 8-ounce and 16-ounce bags of Miller’s shredded cheese (Pizza, Mozzarella, Cheddar, Fancy, Muenster), with an expiration of June 5, 2012, through Sept 4, 2012.

-- All 32-ounce bags of Miller’s shredded Mozzarella with an expiration date of February 6, 2012, through May 7, 2012.

- All 5-pound bags of Miller’s shredded Mozzarella, Cheddar, Muenster and Monterey Jack with a pack date of September 8, 2011, through Dec 7, 2011.

This news comes on the heels of a Massachusetts health department warning issued Friday concerning the recall of a Canadian-made cheese, Fromagerie Marie Kade -- sold in Norwood and Worcester -- also due to possible contamination with listeria. The products were stamped with the establishment number 1874.

No listeria-related illnesses from cheese have been reported so far in Massachusetts.

Deborah Kotz can be reached at dkotz@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter @debkotz2.